May 6, 2011

During the week there were clearly many Ohio birders
ruing the fact they had missed "Super Sunday" last week. Today they got
their compensation. And then some. Super Sunday was quickly forgotten
for Fantastic Friday. A good flow of southwesterlies during the night
brought a swift change to the turgid events of recent days and brought
significant numbers of birds and joy to birders working the woodlots of
this exciting Ottawa/Magee region of Ohio.

A positive Kaufman forecast
and a sharp eye on the weather ensured that a healthy pack of birders
braved the cool morning temperatures for this, the first full day of the
Biggest Week in American Birding festival. And what an opener! Birds
were simply everywhere, and the action was non-stop, causing changes to
birders plans, and delayed lunches and birders simply got hooked on all
the excitement around them. All day long good numbers and variety of
warblers graced sites like the warbler mecca of Magee Marsh and
neighboring refuges like Cedar Point and Ottawa NWR which were not
overshadowed as they boasted some quality species of their own. The
tally in the area hit a heady THIRTY WARBLER SPECIES, and many of these
showed off all day long and seemed happy to be feasted on by all.

Early
doors the shape of things to come was evident at Ottawa NWR where the
trail was bustling with many NASHVILLE WARBLERS, and also held a couple
of "starlets" too with both BLUE-WINGED AND YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS
creating a stir. The biggest crowds of birders of course headed for the
Magee Marsh boardwalk, where a dedicated slew of birders listened to the
sweet calls of warblers ringing through the woods, and quickly racked up
a good batch of warblers for the day list. Things kicked off early with
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER tantalizing the first birders to walk the walk,
and pretty soon they were also talking the talk after such initial
fortune. Not long later at least one male CERULEAN WARBLER made a star
turn, and tantalized those gathered on the boardwalk, by turning up
suddenly and then disappearing just as suddenly thereafter. This A-list
warbler drew gasps on and off all morning as it flirted with the birders
lined along the busy end of Magee boardwalk (the western end). Other
celebrity warblers included several YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS climbing
the trunks at this, the business end of the boardwalk. Although to be
fair, any part of the boardwalk today felt like the business end, as
birds were simply everywhere, and wherever you walked warblers followed.
In addition to the pure, crisp looking GOLDEN-WINGEDS along the
boardwalk, an enticing BREWSTER'S WARBLER (hybrid) also popped up right
near the western entrance to the walkway. Indeed this was where much of
the action centered, and provided joy for birders with their incredible
low down looks, and elation to photographers with the constant stream of
photo opportunities. Any time of day a short sourjourn at this western
entrance would bring a profusion of warblers into view with a little
patience, and many joined official "walks" and frankly walked nowhere!
CAPE MAY, BLACKBURNIAN, CHESTNUT-SIDED, NASHVILLE, BLACK-THROATED BLUE,
BLACK-THROATED GREEN, BAY-BREASTED, and even a muted PINE WARBLER
appeared there to more than satisfy birders and photographers alike.
Other celebrity warblers at Magee included a scattering of BLACKPOLL
WARBLERS, a few neon PROTHONTARY WARBLERS gracing the swampy areas, and
perhaps less appreciated (by virture of their distinctly more "subtle"
appearance were a few ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, in addition to a few of
their lookalikes, TENNESSEE WARBLERS too. A few of the usual latecomers
to the migration party were also at Magee, including the "necklaced one"
, AKA CANADA WARBLER, and even a skull-capped male WILSON'S WARBLER.
Another much desired A-lister was found at Metzger Marsh, in the form a
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. Another significant development was the first
MOURNING WARBLERS of the season with at least 2 birds found at the Cedar
Point National Wildlife Refuge bus trip today. We are awaiting the
well-publicized "second wave" of warblers, which did not seem to be part
of this significant movement today, which still held masses of both PALM
WARBLERS and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, but still consisted of relatively
few MAGNOLIA WARBLERS that should come in force with the next coming
wave.

Sometimes it is hard to look beyond the warblers, as they
continually grab the headlines and bring joy to the hearts of many,
although we should as there were other notable birds around today
including LARK SPARROWS at the East Beach of Magee Marsh, an area that
also held at least one BLUE GROSBEAK. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS also showed
up at both Magee in the morning and also on one of the Cedar Point NWR
bus trips. On top of that vireos were thin on the ground, although those
that were there did their very best to make sure we saw them, including
some showy PHILADELPHIA VIREOS near the popular entrance to the Magee
boardwalk, a few BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, and several YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS
deeper within. Some signs of winter were also provided by PINE SISKINS
and the odd lingering RUSTY BLACKBIRD at Magee too. The popular
TRICOLORED HERON lingered on to thrill more at neighboring Metzger Marsh
too.

The action along the Magee Marsh boardwalk was magnetic and just
when you thought you had seen it all something else would turn up to
draw you back, like the addictive Whip-poor-whill that slept so
helpfully just off the boardwalk all afternoon. A bonus was provided too
by an AMERICAN WOODCOCK that was just a stones throw away from the
sleeping goatsucker. WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS dominated at Magee,
although held a few LINCOLN'S for company too. At this early stage of
the season flycatchers continue to be scarce and few in numbers,
although the odd GREAT-CRESTED AND LEAST FLYCATCHER turned up here and
there, but refused to sing in the cool conditions prevailing along the
boardwalk. However, in spite of all of this quality migrant fare on
offer the best bird of the day was neither a warbler or a species that
most people would traditionally come to Magee for: a BARN OWL sat
quietly all day long just off the boardwalk with a well-trained scope
homed on it the whole time, to ensure that many walked away with this on
their much-coveted state or county lists.

Not sure exactly what
Mother's Day weekend will bring, although even if it yields just half of
what was around today it will bring smiles to many mothers
everywhere!

Sam Woods


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